10 Most Ridiculous Hulk Hogan Matches Ever
9. Hulk Hogan Vs. The Undertaker - Judgment Day 2002
“Let’s tell you something that’s not ridiculous. We are still waiting for the WWE Championship match-up. The Undertaker challenging Hulkamania”-Jim Ross. Judgement Day, 2002
No disrespect meant Jim, but Hogan vs. Undertaker in 2002 in the main event of a pay-per-view was pretty damn close to the definition of ridiculous.
That era was just weird for WWE. It was like puberty, as everyone was just kind of awkward and not sure where to fit in with the post-WCW, semi-post Attitude Era.
Undertaker had a weird haircut, and wore a beanie. Hogan tried to convince us he’s also a badass biker. Instead of going all in on his red and yellow return and playing “Real American” he stuck with his nWo Jimi Hendrix song, which was a weird fit. But most of all, how the hell was Hogan still the top guy in wrestling in 2002?
Of course, Hogan vs. The Rock at WrestleMania was phenomenal, but WWE quickly caved and turned Hulkster face, thereby killing the nWo and overexposing the returning hero. Due to his great crowd reaction, and nostalgia factor going for him, WWE gave him the belt in a match against HHH.
The following month, Hogan defended the Undisputed Title against The Undertaker. It was not good. The two had fought in 1991, and it wasn’t very good then. Eleven years later it a certifiable trainwreck. Hogan was very athletically limited, and without getting to showboat and rely on the crowd’s energy like he did with the Rock, he had to make it seem like he was still physically capable of being the top man in the company. It failed. He took perhaps the worst chokeslam in history in the match, and relied on the same mannerisms he’d perfected in 1984.
It’s too bad WCW wasn’t still alive at the time to mock this match on Nitro.